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i review games on steam after i 100% complete them! check out my reviews to see all the games i have completed!
rakuen is an adventure game developed by laura shigihara and released in 2017. it's definitely a lesser-known game from a small team but those that are familiar with rakuen know that it is known for its emotional narrative, touching story, and unique gameplay mechanics.
one of the standout features of rakuen is its deeply emotional and thought-provoking story. the game explores themes of empathy, friendship, and family in a whimsical and fantastical setting that evokes qualities of a miyazaki/studio ghibli film. the narrative is engaging (something SG films sometimes struggle to do IMO), and the player is drawn into the lives of the characters. the use of storytelling within the game, including the titular book, adds layers to the plot. however, some players may find the pacing slow, and certain sections might be overly sentimental and honestly just too wholesome and/or cute for certain player's palates.
rakuen incorporates a mix of traditional adventure game elements, puzzle-solving, and exploration. the puzzles are well-designed and actually can contribute to the narrative progression. some players may find the gameplay mechanics too simplistic, and thus lacking the challenge that other adventure games provide. i definitely resonate with that, as i love playing games at the hardest possible difficulty to provide tha hardest challenge possible. there is little challenge here, even in it's hardest puzzles. additionally, there are moments where the game's pacing suffers due to backtracking, potentially causing a sense of repetition, or even making players just not want to continue, which is unfortunate but not really unheard of, especially from a small dev like this.
the visuals and audio are delightfully charming, with a cute pixel art style that compliments the atmosphere shigihara was going for. shigihara also impressivle composes the entire soundtrack, and is one of the standouts aside from the narrative.
this is a heartfelt & emotionally resonant experience that i highly recommend to anyone, regardless of how casual or hardcore of a gamer they are. it's exceptional overall, with a strong focus/emphasis on the amazing storytelling and soundtrack. those who appreciate narrative-driven games with a focus on emotional storytelling may find rakuen to be a memorable and moving experience, while others may prefer more gameplay complexity and variety.
i am excited to eventually get to mr. saitou, which is the second game shigihara has self-published to steam.